Jacob Ostergard - Corry, PA
Posted by: bpratt
N 41° 59.345 W 079° 40.650
17T E 609546 N 4649409
The man, the still, the fire and the ghost.
Waymark Code: WMC9DY
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/12/2011
Views: 16
During the heart of Prohibition a shall we say "gentalman" of the local area by the name of Jacob Ostergard had himself a rather lucrative business of moonshining going on in the this area. His stills were the biggest in the area and produced only the highest quality illegal Gin in the two state area. Through a network of sneaks and "vacuum salesmen" Ostergard's gin was delivered to the many back room bars and Speakeasys in the Corry and Youngsville areas along with Clymer and Findley Lake NY.
The business was a great success for may years till one day while doing a proofing test he managed to some how set his entire setup to flame. After sending his helper to safety Ostergard was killed when one of the tanks collapsed under the heat and the ensuing blast literally blew him to pieces and shook the ground for miles. After a rather lengthily search all of the remains were found with the exception of his head. Many people said that he got what he deserved but many more drank to his memory for as long as the back stock of the great mans Gin held out.
For many years after the accident people that were traveling through or hunting in the area would tell of seeing the headless form of Ostergard wandering about the woods looking for his head or perhaps he was simply working on fixing up his still.